Feyenoord vs Sparta Prague Predictions: Feyenoord firepower to sting Sparta
- Feyenoord have scored three or more goals in five of their last seven home games
- Sparta Prague have conceded 13 goals across their last three Champions League games
- Recommended Bet: Back over 2.5 Feyenoord goals
Feyenoord can boost their prospects of making the Champions League knockout stages when they host Sparta Prague in Wednesday's clash at De Kuip.
Seven points from five games have put the Dutch club in a strong position to reach the first round play-off. And a win for Feyenoord, who came back to draw 3-3 against Manchester City last month, would likely be enough to seal qualification.
Meanwhile, Sparta Prague still harbour faint hopes of progressing after taking four points from their first five league phase games.
But their defensive frailties have been exposed in recent European outings, conceding 13 goals in their last three Champions League matches.
Team news
Feyenoord defenders Gernot Trauner and Hugo Bueno returned to training on Tuesday but, while the former could start, this clash looks to have come too soon for the on-loan Wolves man to be involved.
Midfielder Antoni Milambo, who scored twice in Feyenoord's 3-1 win at Benfica, is also ready to start again after coming off at the weekend with a knock.
However, Ayase Ueda and Julian Carranza remain absent due to injury, so the home team's front three is likely to comprise Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez, and Igor Paixao.
Sparta Prague could be without as many as six players for this match, with the two confirmed absentees being Imanol Garcia de Albeniz (cruciate ligament) and Angelo Preciado (muscle).
Midfielders Lukas Haraslin and Krystof Danek have both missed the last three games, while attacker Indrit Tuci and back-up goalkeeper Vojtech Vorel sat out last weekend's 1-0 win over Bohemians.
The stats
At least four goals have been scored in all five of Feyenoord's Champions League matches this season.
When they salvaged a 3-3 draw at the Etihad Stadium, the Dutch side became the first team in Champions League history to avoid defeat after trailing by three goals in the 70th minute.
Feyenoord coach Brian Priske lifted three trophies during his two years as coach of Sparta, including the Prague club's first league title in nine years in 2022-23 and the domestic double last season.
Sparta Prague's 6-0 home defeat to Atletico Madrid on Matchday Four equalled the club's record European defeat from the 1970-71 Fairs Cup against Leeds United.
Prediction
Feyenoord's strong home form and recent goalscoring prowess in Europe suggest they should have too much firepower for Sparta Prague.
Lars Friis' side have clear weaknesses that were exploited by Atletico Madrid in the last round of fixtures.
Goalkeeper Peter Vindahl was leaden-footed for the visitors' first two goals and Sparta were far too open in midfield after that, getting caught on the counter-attack for the rest.
With Feyenoord needing a win to virtually secure qualification and the Czech outfit still holding slim hopes of progression, we could see an open, attacking game.
That sort of occasion should suit the home side, who have scored at least three goals in five of their last seven matches at De Kuip.
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